News
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AstronomyThe sun’s older twin, 250 light-years away
Almost twice as ancient, the distant star gives a glimpse of the sun's future.
By Andrew Grant -
LifeTiny human almost-brains made in lab
Stem cells arrange themselves into a version of the most complex human organ.
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Planetary ScienceTitan becomes even more enigmatic
Thick, rigid crust of ice encases Saturn's largest moon, perplexing scientists.
By Andrew Grant -
ClimateGlobal warming hiatus tied to cooler temps in Pacific
Average air temperatures' rise has paused, but not stopped, because of normal variation in ocean temperatures.
By Erin Wayman -
LifeA fight between gut parasites means a win for people
Worms and Giardia can antagonize each other in the human intestinal tract, study of people in the Amazon suggests.
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HumansBabies learn words before birth
Brain responses suggest infants can distinguish distinct words from altered versions that they learned in the womb.
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PsychologyBehavioral research may overstate results
'Soft' sciences inflate support for what scientists expected to find, data check suggests.
By Bruce Bower -
EarthBreakups maintain barchan dune fields, somehow
Two new theories try to explain how the crescent-shaped sand mountains persist.
By Erin Wayman -
Astronomy‘Space beads’ push back origins of iron working
Ancient Egyptians used advanced techniques to make beads out of 'metal from the sky.'
By Bruce Bower -
AstronomyTo determine stars’ physical traits, Kepler sees the light
Measuring stellar brightness can yield useful estimates of stars' size and evolutionary stage, and help in the hunt for planets.
By Andrew Grant -
AnimalsFor sheep horns, bigger is not better
Trade-offs between studliness and survival keep less endowed sheep in the mix.
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LifeBacteria can cause pain on their own
Microbes caused discomfort in mice by activating nerves, not the immune system.